Trimmer for sewing-machines.



No. 724,321.v

PATENTED MAR. 3l, 1903.

D. NOBLE.

TRIMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY Z8, 1900.

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I *il W/TNESSES r NO. 724:321. PATENTED MAB.;V 31, 1903.

D. NOBLE; TRIMMER FOR SEWINGVYMAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1900. wml.. /37- 3' jsnnm SHEET 2.

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m1724321. PATLNTLD MAR'. 31, 1903.l

D. NOBLE.

TRIMMER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY za, 1900. v

No MoDEL. a SHEETS-SHEET a.

A 7TOHNEY UNITED STATES PATENT Omen.'

DONALD NOBLE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO \VI'IEELER da WILSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TRIM'NIER-FOR SEWING-MACHINES'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,321, dated March 31, 1903.

. Application md Jniyzs, 1900. serian... 25,124.. (No man.)

machines for trimming cloth, leather, knitv goods, dac., while stitching the same, and is particularly adapted for use in trimming knit goods or other materials of similar texture,

15 which have heretofore proven very difficult to trim so as to leave an even clean-cut edge.

The object of my invention is to provide a trimmer particularly adapted for use upon material of such nature and which is adapted zo for use in connection with sewing-machines of either the single or twin needle variety.

The invention consists of a trimmer comprising a blade or cutter carried by the presserfoot and a knife secured to a link, which is 2 5 reciprocated longitudinally and vertically by an eccentric connection with the needle-driving shaft, and this motion is converted intol an oblique oscillatory motion by peculiarly connecting said knife with the presser-foot, 3o and the parts are timed so that when the presser-foot has fully descended and firmly clamped the material between itself and the throat-plate and the needle is in the material and the feed-dog depressedthe knife is given 35 an upward movement obliquely and in the direction of the feed frombelow the material and cuts the material against the cutter on the presser-foot with a draw cut, or, in'

in elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the trimmer looking from` the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top View of the trimmer, taken in the-plane of line b b, Fig. 3, the needle, bar, presser-bar, throat- 5 5 plate, dac., being omitted.Y Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view-of the trimmer. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line c c, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the throat-plate used in connection with 6o my improved trimmer. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line cl 61 Fig. 3. v Fig. 9 is a View illustrating a sample of the product obtained. Figs. l0, ll, and l2 are views somewhat similar to Figs. 2, 3, 65 and 4, respectively, partly broken away, illustrating a modified form of my invention.

In describing my improved trimmer only such limited reference will be made to wellkuown parts of the sewingmachine as is 7o deemed necessary to a proper understanding of my invention.

lis the overhanging arm of the sewing-machine, within which is journaled in any usual manner the spring-actuated presser-bar 2. 75

3 is a presser-foot secured to the lower end of the presser-bar in any usual manner, as by a screw 4, and 5 is a blade or cutter secured to said presser-footby screws 6. Said cutter 5 is preferably secured to the presser- `8o foot in-such a manner that the cutting edge Y thereof will be even with the right-hand edge and approximately flush with the bottom of said'presser-foot, as clearly shown in Figs. 4. and 5. Y 85 7 is a vertically-movable knife provided near its lower end with an upwardly-disposed cutting edge 8, a sort of hook, which is adapted to cooperate with the cutter 5, carried by the presser-foot. 9o

In one form of my invention, Figs. l to 9, the knife 7 is pivotally attached to two oscillating arms 9 l0, which latter are in turn pivoted to an ear ll, rigidly attached to or formed integral with the presser-foot. The farm 9 is 95 at its heel end pivoted around a shouldered screw l2, tapped within the ear ll and having a lock-nut 13 to prevent. said' screw from becoming loose. Upon the opposite end of said arm 9 is formed a boss 14: with a conroo centric hole 15. 16 is a pin secured rigidly to thenpper end of the knife 7, as by a nut 17, and fitting within the hole 15 in the end of the arm 9, whereby any strain at the cutting edge 8 tending to twist said knife will be resisted by said pin. (See Fig. 6.) The arm 10 is at its heel end secured upon va barrel or sleeve 18, pivoted around a shouldered screw 19, tapped within the ear 11 and having a lock-nut 2O to prevent said screw from becoming loose. rlhe opposite end of said arm 10 has a pin 21, which projects within a4 hole 22, Fig. 1, in the knife 7, by which it is readily engaged with and disengaged from said knife, and when so disengaged the knife may be removed by slipping its pin 1G out of the sleeve 14.

As shown in the drawings, the distance between the pivotal centers of the knife 7 with respect to the distance between the pivotal centers of the arms 9 and 10 is such that when said knife is in its lowermost position (see Fig. 3) the uppermost pivotal center of said knife will be in a plane somewhat below the pivotal center of arm 9, while `the lowermost pivotal center of said knife will be in a plane slightly above the pivotal center of the arm 10, so that when said knife is moved upwardly into the positionshown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 a draw cut will be imparted4 to the cutting edge 8--that is, said cutting edge 8 will be given an oblique movement against the cutter 5, carried by the presser-foot and in the direction of the feed of thematerial.

The arm 10 is a spring set to press the knife 7 toward the cutter 5, and it not only serves to pivot the knife 7, but also acts as a spring to keep the cutting edge 8 of said knife pressed tightly against the cutter 5, which latter should be of sufficient height or thickness (according to the length of stroke of the movable knife 7) to prevent the knife 7fron1 being thrust over on top of the presser-foot by said spring-arm 10. Said arm 10 is formed of thin sheet metal of proper temper bent into U shape at the heel end and perforated, so as to be slipped over the barrel 18. (See Fig. 8.) 23 is a flange formed upon the barrel 18, and 24 isa nut run uponthe threaded end of said barrel, the spring-arm 10 being secured 'between said flange and nut, whereby the tension of said spring-arm 10 may be altered by screwing the nut in or out upon said barrel. The adjustability of the spring-arm 10 is of considerable importance, for the reason that the pressure with which the knife 7 bears against the cutter 5 may be regulated to conform to varying conditions and to material of different texture, and the particular manner of mounting said spring-arm 10, as shown in Fig. S, leaves the latter free to turn on its pivot without any undue friction, thus insuring great durability.

The 4throat-plate 25 is out away or slotted, as shown at 2G, to accommodate the movements of the knife 7.

The mechanism for actuating myimproved trimmer is driven directly from the main er needle vactuating shaft 27 as follows: 28 is the usualy take-up cam-tight on the shaft 27, and 29 is an overhanging crank-arm rigidly secured within a hole in the face of said takeup cam by a taper pin 3Q, driven through a hole in the stud 31 of said crank-arm, which stud is fitted in the hole in the cam, as shown clearly'in Figs. 1 and 2. The stud' 31 of said crank-arm serves as a crank-pin, around which one end of the usual needle-bar link 32 is pivoted, whilethe other end of said link 32 is connected to the needle-bar 33 in the usual manner. 34 is a link the upper end of which is pivoted around an eccentric stud 35, formed on the crank-arm 29, while the lower end of said link is pivotally connected with the boss 14, formed on the end of the oscillatory arm 9. The lower portion of the overhanging arm l is slotted for the passage of the link 34 therethrough, as shown in dotted lines at 36, Figs. 1 and 2. 37 is a journal strap or socket fitted around the boss 14 on said oscillatory arm 9 and provided with a recess or box, withinvwhich the lower end of the link 34 is fitted. 38 is a screw which passes through an elongated slot 39 in said journal-strap 37 and takes within a threaded hole in the end of said link 34, by means of which a vertical adjustment of the knife 7 may be obtained. The link 34 might be connected directly with the bess 14; but I prefer the above manner of connection for convenience in assembling and also for the reason that it affords a vertical adjustment of the knife.

As shown in Fig. 3, the material A to be itrimmed is clamped firmly between the throatplate and presser-foot, and the timing of the movement of the knife 7 is such that the cutting edge of said knife will be drawn through said material while the latter is thus firmly clamped between the fully-descended presserfoot and the throat-plate before the feedpoints 40 rise to feed said material.

It will be understood that the feeding of the material is accomplished in the usual manner, and a detailed description of the same is deemed unnecessary.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12 I have illustrated a construction wherein the vertically-movable knife is given an oblique cutting movement in a somewhat modified manner. The ear 1 11, corresponding to the previously described ear 11 on the presser-foot, is bent in a' forward direct-ion instead of rearwardly, and the knife 7 is pivotallyv attached to two slide-blocks 41 42, which work in slots 43 44, respectively, formed in the ear 111. The slot 43 is perpendicular to the line of feed, while the slot 44 is oblique. 45 46 are shouldered screws which pass through a plate 47 on one side of the ear 111, thence through the respective slide-blocks 41 42 and knife 7, and 48 49 are nnts run on the ends of said screws, whereby said parts are secured in proper po- IOS IIO

sition. It will be observed that by this construction a firm fiat bearing-surface is provided for theA knife, whereby the latter will be able to resist any twisting tendency caused at the cutting edge 8. The link 34.- is pivotally attached to the screw '45 in a manner similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6. In this modified construction the knife is also given an oblique draw cut; but said knife is kept pressed against the cutter 5, with which it cooperates, by its own resiliency, thel adjustable means for regulating the pressure with which said knife bears against the cutter 5 being omitted or other form of adjustment being provided.

By giving the knife a draw cut inthe direction of the feed of the material, as previously pointed out, not only is the material cut so as to leave a clean even edge, but such draw cut greatly facilitates t-he feed of the waste material in passing on out of4 the'way and preventing such waste gettingin the pathway of the needle and being stitched to the garment being made, to the latters injury and the probable breakage of the parts.

In stitching narrow strips of cloth or tapes upon a garment and trimming the edge of the latter at the same time it is necessary to employ a suitable tension device and guide through which such strips or tapes may pass, and to this end I have provided a tape-guide 50 of the desired Width, which embraces and su rrounds the forward end of the presserfoot. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) 5l is a spring secured to or formed integral with said tapeguide and held in place on said presser-foot by a screw 52. The spring 51 exerts a tendency to keep the tape-guide 50 pressed upwardly against the bottom of the presser-foot, so that a suitable tension will be exerted on the tape or strip in passing through said. guide on its way to the stitch-forming mechanism.

Although the draw cnt hereinbefore referred-to is of great advantage and far superior to any other method to me known, still I do not wish to be limited to this particular manner of drawing the knife through the material, since a straight vertical cut could be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention, the gist of which resides in the broad idea of providing mechanism for cutting upwardly against a cutter carried by the presser-foot, the latter at the same time clamping the material firmly between the bottom of saidpresser-foot and the throatplate.

The knife might be supported independently of the presser-foot; but I consider it of importance that the two cutting edgesnamely, cutter 5 and knife 7-should be in one rigid frame, so as to keep them in accurate alinement, and thus render their coaction most efficient.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a sewing-machine-trimmer, the'combnation with means'for feeding the material, a spring-actuated presser-foot, and a cutter on said presser-foot, of a knife mounted on said presser-foot and connected therewith at two independent points and having an upwardly-disposed cutting edge adapted to cooperate with the cutter carried Vbysaid presser-foot, and means to impart to said knife a positive upward draw cut.

2. In a sewing-machine trimmer, the combination with means for feeding the material,

a spring-actuated presser-foot and a cuttertl1ereon,of a knife provided with an upwardlydisposed cutting edge adapted to coperate with the cutter carried by said presser-foot, two oscillatory arms pivotally connected with said presser-foot and supporting the said knife in operative relation to the cutter, and means to impart au upward cutting movement'toV against the cutter carried by said presser- IOO foot, and means to lift and depress said knife.

4. In a sewing-machine trimmer, the combination with means for feeding the material,

a spring-actuated presser-foot and a cutterV thereon, of a knife provided with an upwardly-disposed cutting edge adapted to cooperate with the cutter carried by said presserfoot, two oscillatory arms pivotally connected with said presser-foot and supporting said knife in operative position with relation to said cutter, a spring acting upon one of said arms to cause it to keep said knife pressed against the cutter carried by said presser-A IIO foot, means to vary the tension of said spring in order to insure the proper relation of the IIS knife and cutter, and means to lift and depress said knife.

5. In a sewing-machine trimmer, the combination with a driving-shaft, means for feeding the material, a spring-actuated ,presserfoot and a cutter thereon, of a'knife provided with an upwardly disposed cutting edge adapted to cooperate with the cutter carried by said presser-foot, two oscillatory arms pivotally connected with said presser-foot and knife, means for maintaining a pressure between said knife and cutter, and a link one end of which is pivotally connected eccentrically with the driving-shaft while the' other end of said link is pivotally connected with one of said oscillatory arms, and means to lift and depress said knife, substantially as described.

6. In a sewing-machine trimmer, the combination with a d riving-shaft, means for feeding the material, a spring-actuated presserfoot and a cutter thereon, of a knife provided with an upwardly disposed cutting edge adapted to cooperate with the cutter carried by said presser-foot, two oscillatory arms pivotally connecting said knife and presser-foot, a spring applied to one of said arms to cause it to keep said knife pressed against said cutter, a barrel or sleeve carried by said presserfoot and upon which said arm is pivoted, means for adjustingthe tension of said spring', and operative connections between said arms 'and driving-shaft for actuating said knife,

substantially as set forth.

7. In a sewing-machine trimmer, the combination with means for feeding the material, 

